Within two weeks, the world of sport gathers in Paris for the 2024 Olympic Games. More than 10,000 athletes — representing 196 nations — are set to compete across 45 registered sports following the July 26 opening ceremony.
Of those from Team USA, which world-class athletes have local ties?
Who will defend a gold medal?
Here’s a look at the 19 Olympians with roots in Washington state:
3X3 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Lexie Hull, 24 — The News Tribune’s 2018 All-State girls basketball player of the year and five-star high school recruit guided Central Valley to an undefeated 4A state title, averaging 20.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Hull dropped 11 points per game across four seasons at Stanford and was selected by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever with the sixth overall pick in the 2022 draft. Playing 11 minutes per game for the Fever in 2024 (3 points, one rebound, one assist per game).
Hailey Van Lith, 22 — She’s emerged as one of the faces of women’s college basketball, including a 2022 NCAA Final Four appearance with Louisville and one-season stint with LSU (2023-24). Van Lith was first a high-school star in Washington state, a Cashmere senior in 2020 who averaged 33 points, nine rebounds and five assists per game en route to Washington Gatorade Player of the Year and Ms. Basketball honors. Career-best college season in 2022-23 with Louisville featured 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals per game. Transferred to TCU on April 27 for an upcoming fifth and final collegiate season.
ARTISTIC SWIMMING
Keana Hunter, 20 — Issaquah High School alum is a two-time world medalist who competed in three straight World Championships from 2022-24.
Audrey Kwon, 18 — Four-time world medalist based in Seattle moved to the United States at the age of 2. Placed second (technical team) and third (acrobatic team) at the 2023 Canada World Cup.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Deahna Kraft, 25 — A move from Honolulu brought Kraft to Seattle at age 9, a soon-to-be Garfield High School alum who went on to play college volleyball at Pepperdine University and the University of Wisconsin.
CANOE/KAYAK
Jonas Ecker, 21 — Student-athlete at the University of Washington will partner with Aaron Small in the men’s K2 500-meter and K2 1,000-meter races in Paris. Bellingham native is a seven-year Team USA veteran.
Nevin Harrison, 22 — Seattle native and Roosevelt High School grad will defend her title after striking gold in the women’s C1 200-meter at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Aaron Small, 22 — Seattle native and University of Washington attendee won silver in the 2024 Pan American K1 500-meters.
GYMNASTICS
Jordan Chiles, 23 — UCLA gymnastics alum won the silver medal with Team USA in the 2020 games in Tokyo. The Vancouver, Washington native is a three-time world championship medalist.
PARA-CYCLING
Travis Gaertner, 44 — Burien native and two-time Paralympic gold medalist competed for Team Canada’s wheelchair basketball team in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. He makes his Team USA (and para-cycling) debut on the Olympic stage some two decades later.
Aaron Keith, 53 — Woodinville native is a 13-time world medalist (three gold, six silver, four bronze) and is a now-two-time Paralympian. MC2 classification.
Susannah Scaroni, 33 — Tekoa native is a three-time Paralympian and two-time medalist who won gold (Women’s 5000-meter T54) at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
ROWING
Rielly Milne, 28 — Woodinville native graduated from the University of Washington in 2018 and medaled at both the 2017 and 2018 U23 World Rowing Championships.
Evan Olson, 26 — Olson took up rowing at age 16, and the rest is history. The Seattle native graduated from the University of Washington in 2019 and helped win the Men’s Eight in the 2024 World Rowing olympic-qualifying final.
Jacob Plihal, 28 — The Vashon Island native makes his first Olympic appearance after appearing on five national rowing teams.
SWIMMING
Matt King, 22 — Snohomish native booked his trip to Paris with the 4×100 freestyle relay team.
TRACK AND FIELD
Nia Akins, 26 — Seattle-based runner booked her trip to Paris at last month’s 2024 USA Olympic Trials in Eugene with a personal-best 1:57.36 in the women’s 800 meters.
CJ Allen, 29 — Bremerton native and North Mason High School alum (2013) earned nine varsity letters before enjoying an All-American collegiate career at Washington State as a hurdle specialist. To compete in Paris in the 400-meter hurdles.
Marisa Howard, 31 — Pasco High School graduate (2010) will represent the United States in the 3,000-meter women’s steeplechase. Boise State alum is a part-time school nurse.
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